StaddonFamily.com

Weekend with the Wilkes

Michael — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:55:49 +0000

What a refreshing time enjoying the unity of fellow believers in a whirlwind of profitable activity! Times of planning, times of work, times of rest, and times of play, but all of them were times of joy. I wish we had pictures of the volleyball and ping pong! What a joy it was also to have the Fleshman family join us! Thank you one and all for pitching in and blessing us with your energy and smiles and voices.

Thanks to the help of many volunteers who helped care for the apple and peach trees in previous months and years, we were blessed with an abundant harvest! The Wilkes and Fleshman families helped us process some of the harvest so that we could enjoy it on many occasions to come. Thank you one and all!

Give Me Liberty!

Michael — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:18:41 +0000

Hillary Clinton got me thinking recently with a decision she made to support a legally binding international treaty to increase regulations on the gun trade. Just what do you think the Administration is up to now?

The disarming of American citizens can be achieved by controlling the distribution of firearms. The best way at the moment to get control of this distribution is through an international treaty that would bypass the legislative process (“government of the people, by the people, for the people”) and subjugate the American people to laws created by foreign nations. Would the American people comply with that kind of insanity? I don’t think so. Remember Virginia’s motto? It is “Thus always to tyrants” with Virtus armed and standing atop a dead tyrant. What if Virginians were to stick to that? What about the famous words of Patrick Henry? “Give me liberty or give me death!” What do you do with a law that makes a good thing illegal, while the law itself is Constitutionally illegal? Article 2 of the Bill of Rights states that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Do Americans value freedom as much as those who have tried to live without it? Why did my grandpa put his life on the line in World War II? Talking about the right to load ammunition and bear arms is talking about the guarantee of a free country. If Mountaineers will always be free, mountaineers will have to be armed. That’s what the 2nd amendment is all about. If you love America, go here.

Let’s think this over. Why should anyone be labeled a criminal just because he owns a weapon? Why did God give horns and hooves to the buffalo, and stingers to the honey bees? What is wrong with parents protecting their families? Why would a government even want to make it difficult for its good, responsible and law abiding citizens to arm themselves? Does the government really think it can completely control all crime so that no one ever has to defend themselves? Do we want the government to have that kind of absolute control over everyone? If that means eliminating guns, it also means eliminating cooking utensils, rocks, and fingers. Anyone who truly favors fighting crime must favor the armed citizen. If we have a crime problem, what we need to ask is why people do not control themselves and respond correctly to difficult situations. So why would some people want Americans helpless? Are the American people entirely untrustworthy? Why should the government be afraid of an armed nation? This level of suffocating restraint without any regard to personal self-control is tyranny. For one thing, governmental force and secular education do not have the capacity to solve a crime problem. Furthermore, a law that banned weapons would only take weapons away from law abiding citizens, the very ones who should be armed. Every month the NRA reports many accounts of citizens properly using firearms to successfully protect their families. Does it seem to you that the TV news tends to only report the actions of lawless people using weapons in lawless ways? Is this by accident?

A Wonderful Weekend with a Wedding, a Website, and many Warm Welcomes!

Esther — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:58:03 +0000

Well, what else is there to say? The title sums up the blessed time Robert and I spent in OKC earlier this month. From Mrs. Marshall’s enthusiastic greeting at the airport and the hospitality of the Gomezes, Burnetts, and Prentises, who all opened their homes for us, to the many friends we had a chance to spend time with, it was a very fun, full, fabulous five days! Jessica Fagala and Kerzdenn Kowalchuck’s wedding was a beautiful representation of Christ coming for His church and we were delighted to attend.

We heard some great news while visiting the Burnetts! They have launched their new family website!!!!! We highly recommend you visit them at http://www.10burnetts.com They have just an exciting weekend at the Peach Festival!

A New Perspective

James — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:30:00 +0000

The climax of our trip concluded with probably the most spectacular activity we could have imagined: a helicopter tour of the city of Callao and the surrounding towns. One of our tour guides has connections with the Peruvian Naval Air Force, so through him we were granted this incredible opportunity to see Peru from a completely different perspective.

Because of this trip, I now see Peru from a completely different perspective. It is no longer an exotic location of tourist attractions; it is a land teaming with friendly people who are open to working toward meeting the needs of their country. I have seen with my eyes and heard with my ears that there is great potential for Peru that will soon burst forth to a degree that will attract the attention of the world!

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden
causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth;
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. (Isaiah 61:11)

Summary: The Extremes of Peru

James — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:30:00 +0000

Wow! There is less and less time in the evenings to write. In fact, we haven’t returned to our hotel before midnight for the past few evenings. So, I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking.

Currently, the country of Peru is divided into two classes for the most part: the rich and the poor. We traveled through some pretty poor regions of Lima this morning.

Then there are the rich. What better place encapsulates this more than the Presidential Palace itself? The greatest highlight of the day was to tour this incredible building, something not available to your normal tourist. It is equivalent to the United State’s White House. Though we never saw the president, we still got to see the incredible architecture of his home. Everything you see that is gold in these pictures is truly gold; pure gold.

And another amazing banquet dinner! Octopus and raw fish don’t really taste that bad any more.

Celebrating Independence Day

Admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:04:50 +0000

This year the Lord worked it out for many family and friends, even our Aunt Ruth from Florida! to participate in the celebration of our country’s freedom. Here’s some pictures from the great time of fellowship and activities.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!

Summary: From Coast to Congress

James — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Many things happened today, but I only have time to share about two.

We stopped in Callao again today and had lunch at the Yacht Club Peruano. There was a huge deck at the end of a pier that looked out over the bay where tables were set where we dined. It was gorgeous, and God even brought the sun out to cut off the slight chill that is ever present during their winter.

In the evening, we were invited to sing at a special Christian event at none other than Peru’s House of Congress! This is one event I’ll never forget.

Please pray for alertness. Everyone on the team is very tired after getting very little sleep throughout the week. There is no time during the day for rest, so pray we would be able to use our time very wisely during the few hours of the evening and morning we are at the hotel. Buenas noches!

Summary: Touring Lima

James — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:00:00 +0000

From the Maria Angola Centro de Convenciones across the street from our hotel to the Plaza de Armas downtown, we had a fantastic tour of Lima today.

I think the Plaza de Armas was my favorite location. We arrived there at dusk, just in time to photograph the beautiful textures of the intricate architecture.

Afterward, we ate dinner at a very fancy Chinese/Peruvian restaurant. They say the President of Peru eats there sometimes! It was distinctly South American.

Thank you for praying for the team! As an update, we are staying very healthy and God is blessing us with favor in the eyes of all we meet. Please pray now for organization and direction for long term goals.

Summary: A Day in Callao

James — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:30:00 +0000

Today, we drove to Peru’s largest and most important port city, Callao (pronounced Kaw-jhow). For lunch we went out to eat at a very fancy restaurant that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. Many boats were docked close by and large ships could be seen in the distance. The seafood served was just incredible!

To finish the day, we strolled along the coast at the end of the peninsula on which Callao is situated. It was a beautiful way to finish a beautiful day!

And just for fun, here are a few more random shots taken throughout the day.

Summary: Building Relationships

James — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:00:34 +0000

Today could be divided into two main sections. First, the team traveled about two hours north by bus to a school where took the opportunity to share testimonies, sing, and explain how to have true success in life. We then ate lunch with the students and had a great time just interacting with them one on one.

We concluded the day with a fantastic banquet at a friend’s home. Again, fellowship and building relationships with new people were the highlights.

I also wanted to post a few random pictures I took during our long hours of traveling. Along the coast, it is indeed desert both geographically and, sadly, economically.